COPENHAGEN IS THE 2014 EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL

Copenhagen has won the European Commission’s prestigious European Green Capital award in recognition of the city’s efforts to combine sustainable solutions with growth and quality of life. The city’s efforts to persuade more people to cycle, to become CO2-neutral by 2025 and to act as a living laboratory for new green solutions are among the reasons for this recognition.

Foto: Copenhagen Media Center, Kasper Thye

Ambitious cities

Cities play a vital role in terms of dealing with climate
changes and other environmental problems both now and in the
future. That is why every year the EU Commission gives theEuropean
Green Capital award to a city, which is working consistently and
ambitiously to become greener. As a result of the city's
well-developed bicycle culture, clean harbour baths and continuous
sustainable planning, this year Copenhagen beat 17 other European
cities to win the prize.

The best solutions are shared

This recognition means that Copenhagen is now committed to being
a green role model for cities throughout the world. That is why,
under the heading of "Sharing Copenhagen", Copenhagen is inviting
the rest of Europe to the Danish capital in 2014 in the hope of
sharing, on an international level, the best solutions for how
cities can help reduce CO2 emissions, solve traffic-related
challenges, guarantee clean water for drinking and swimming or
become resilient in the face of future weather conditions.
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Growth and green conversion

The development of the Danish capital is based on a belief that
growth, green conversion and the best urban living in the world can
go hand in hand. In the competition, Copenhagen was assessed
on the basis of 12 different focus areas, ranging from
transportation and waste to biodiversity and climate. The city
scored top marks in just about all areas.

Clean water for bathing, parks and natural areas increase the
city's value and make it more desirable to live in. Today people
can dive into Copenhagen Harbour, 96% of Copenhagen residents can
reach a large green or blue area in less than 15 minutes, while new
urban gardens are squeezing themselves into the city. Copenhagen
has also initiated a historic, large-scale nature restoration
project, and there are several beaches­ on the way.

Bikes and CO2

Every day people cycle 1.2 million km in Copenhagen, while
thousands of people travel by bus, train, and underground or on
foot. Copenhagen is in the midst of a historic expansion of its
public trans­port system, and there has been massive investment in
more cycle paths. All these ventures are part of the city's goal to
be CO2-neutral by 2025. In 2011, four years earlier than planned,
Copenhagen achieved its interim target of reducing the city's
greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, when compared to the 2005 level.
Biomass, more wind turbines and environmentally­ friendly street
lighting represent some of the initiatives, which led to this
reduction.

Åbningskonference. Foto: Ursula
Bach

People first

In January the city's success was marked by a conference, at
whichinternational experts and politicians clarified why Copenhagen
was worthy of theEuropean Green Capital title. The conference
highlighted quality of life and residents' opportunities to
participate in urban living as the principal reasons for the
award.

"Copenhagen has led the way with planning, which puts people
first. One can clearly see this in the city today,"explained George
Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, during the conference.

The city's residents will also be involved in the capital's new
title in the form of events for the people of Copenhagen,
conferences, master classes and guided tours. Several companies,
educational institutions, organisations and local forces have
united with the City of Copenhagen to create this wide-ranging
programme. ­

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Green city

About European Green Capital Award >

Every year the European Commission gives the European Green
Capital Award to a town or city, which has more than 200,000
inhabitants, and which is working consistently and ambitiously to
become greener. The winner is then committed to being a green role
model for the rest of the EU.­

The prize has previously been awarded to Stockholm, Hamburg,
Vittoria-Gasteiz and, most recently, to Nantes, which won the award
in 2013.

Meet leading Danish and international architects and professionals, create potential networks and acquire important knowledge about the architectural, construction and innovative industries though seminars, publications and case studies.

THE BEST VIEW OVER COPENHAGEN HARBOUR

UNIQUE LOCATION FOR MEETINGS AND
CONFERENCES

We provide professional conference facilities and you will have the
opportunity to visit our changing exhibitions, and enjoy a light
lunch or a cup of coffee and a cake in our café on the first
floor.

TEACHING ARCHITECTURE

We offer courses for different age groups in connection with
Danish Architecture Centre's temporary exhibitions. The activities
are suited to varying target groups depending on the type of
exhibition and wherever possible the courses include hands-on
activities for children. The courses can also be conducted in
English.